With the proliferation of batteries in electric mobility, the need for reliable and safe Battery Management Systems (BMSs) has become crucial. BMSs help maintain the optimal operation of battery packs in Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) and protect them from exceeding their operational and safety limits.

BMSs help manage the charging and discharging of a battery to ensure that its optimal performance is maintained. It monitors parameters such as voltage, temperature, and health of the lithium-ion batteries, calculating the current State of Charge (SOC) and remaining capacity and, in some cases, the State of Health (SOH).

This provides an accurate overview of the battery pack so that necessary corrective measures can be taken to avoid overcharging or discharge. Additionally, BMSs for electric mobility ensures that the user is provided with information on when to recharge and identifies dangerous failures without the user’s involvement.

In addition to monitoring, protecting, and managing the charging and discharging of a battery, a Battery Management Systems also provides control of the battery system, such as equalisation (cell balancing), charging extension, and load management.

This allows for improved control of the battery system to maintain the batteries in the optimal range to ensure the safety and performance of the battery system. Overall, BMSs for electric mobility are essential in ensuring the reliability, safety, and performance of today’s electric and hybrid vehicles and the wider electrified transportation market.

Current State

BMSs for electric mobility are continuously evolving and improving. The current state of BMSs for electric mobility includes software advances that allow power optimisation from batteries, improved control strategies, and intelligent charging and discharging systems.

Additionally, the introduction of new materials and technologies, such as solid-state batteries, promises an improved level of performance with intelligent Battery Management Systems. This will bring new opportunities for battery designs, improved safety, and further advances in electric mobility.

However, some of the innovations detailed in the following section can address the inherent shortfalls of BMSs. These shortfalls include the relatively low operating efficiency, where advanced algorithms need to continuously monitor BMSs to prevent overcharging or over-discharging the battery. In comparison, ‘smart’ BMSs offer improved efficiency.

The cost and complexity are intertwined, as higher overall costs are associated with more complex systems. Additionally, scaling and accommodating increasing battery capacity are challenging for most BMSs.

Innovations in the BMS space

Texas Instruments, US, has successfully led the way in providing a reliable and innovative wireless BMS. This cutting-edge technology has revolutionised the way electronic products operate, providing diverse energy solutions for both entertainment and industrial purposes.

Texas Instruments’ wireless BMS has been designed to increase the effectiveness of energy usage. It offers various features to maximise battery life, manage performance, monitor safety, and protect against physical damage.

The product’s unique selling point lies in its simple and intuitive design. It facilitates safety-critical applications within automotive applications by providing a secure wireless operating environment. It also supports remote communication allowing users to monitor and control battery usage remotely.

Furthermore, its small physical and digital footprint makes it easy to install in an array of devices without taking up too much space. Several industry stakeholders have recognized Texas Instruments’ wireless BMS for its efficiency and reliability. In summary, it has proven to be a cost-effective solution for ensuring reliable operation in a wide range of applications.

Emuron, located in India, is a company that specialises in Battery Management Systems that use Internet of Things (IoT) technology to maximise the power, safety, and reliability of battery energy storage systems using complex algorithms and analytics to monitor critical parameters such as battery health, charge current, voltage, temperature, and system reliability.

Emuron’s BMSs also offer automated control systems with dynamic load management capabilities to ensure optimal performance. The company’s unique selling point is its advanced predictive analytics which can measure a battery’s performance in real-time and rapidly adjust the performance when necessary, maximising efficiency and optimising the battery’s longevity.

Additionally, Emuron provides an intuitive cloud-based platform, making it easy for customers to monitor, diagnose, and control their battery systems from anywhere with an internet connection.

Advanced Battery Management Systems for Electric Mobility

Titan, headquartered in the US, has developed an ultrasound based BMS that utilises advanced signal processing and machine learning algorithms to measure the battery’s health at any given moment. It continuously optimises the battery’s performance and prolongs its lifespan with its cloud-based data analysis. This system has the ability to sense any unwanted thermal and electrical issues before they can cause any damage to the battery.

It also alerts users when degradation begins, allowing them to take appropriate actions to maintain the battery’s life. The system offers information on the battery system’s SOH and SOC and employs cutting-edge signal processing and machine learning to track the deterioration of lithium-ion batteries, cycle by cycle.

This offers useful knowledge for enhancing the capacity, longevity, and safety of batteries and battery-powered goods to electric car makers, Emergency Signal System (ESS) suppliers, and battery manufacturers.

Advanced BMS Technology for Optimal Battery Performance

Nerve Smart Systems, headquartered in Denmark, have developed a BMS that uses advanced technology to make the charging and discharging of battery systems more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective. Achieving Optimal Battery Performance through Two Key Features

1.) automated efficiency and

2.) dynamic equalisation. For automated efficiency,

Nerve Smart Systems’ technology uses advanced algorithms to continuously monitor battery performance and applies proven techniques to increase longevity and extend battery life. The dynamic equalisation process maximises performance by predicting the degradation of each cell, allowing it to identify when to charge each cell with the optimal amount of voltage and current. This ensures that the cells stay balanced and at an optimal level in terms of performance.

Perhaps the most critical element of Nerve Smart System’s technology is its patented software. Their software offers a suite of diagnostic tools to enable deep visibility into any battery system, making it easier to identify issues and monitor charge cycles.

Furthermore, Nerve Smart Systems can provide scalability for up to 10,000 cells in a battery system, enabling installation regardless of the system’s size. Ultimately, Nerve Smart Systems’ advanced technology and software combination allows for faster, more efficient, and safer charging and discharging of battery systems.

Innovative BMS Technology for Enhanced Electric Vehicle Performance

Torp Motors, based in Croatia, has developed an advanced BMS technology that sets them apart from other electric vehicle manufacturers. This technology gives greater control to the users making electric vehicles safer, more efficient, and more reliable. The focus of this technology is to extend battery life and minimise charging time and range anxiety.

This BMSs for electric mobility technology offers better safety and control than traditional Battery Management Systems by including cell voltage monitoring, discharge depth analysis, monitoring of temperature, current, and other parameters.

The supervisory control unit monitors all the parameters and records the data. The utilization of this data enables the identification of any battery issues or deterioration that can be addressed to enhance battery life.

Real-time monitoring maximizes the battery’s performance and tailors it to each user and their unique usage patterns. Users can select a lower capacity mode which will help reduce the charging time and the amount of energy used.

This feature helps maximise the efficiency of each battery and to extend battery life. Advanced algorithms help to modulate the charging stages to improve charging efficiency.

The Torp Motors Battery Management Systems also intelligently monitors energy flow during regeneration which helps extend the range of the vehicles. All these features combine to reduce the cost of ownership and improve the overall performance of electric vehicles. The BMSs for electric mobility technology is part of their unique selling point and helps to differentiate them from their competitors in the electric vehicle marketplace.

The Future of Battery Management Systems for Electric Mobility

BMSs for electric mobility accounted for a significant portion of the estimated US$7.9 billion global Battery Management Systems market size in 2022. It is anticipated that by 2032, the market will reach a value of US$48.4 billion. The BMS technology for electric mobility is evolving as it continues to improve and adapt to the increasingly complex battery systems.

The industry expects it to become increasingly sophisticated in understanding the unique intricacies of each battery type. This will likely involve more data-driven approaches and a focus on predictive analytics.

Moreover, it could be tailored and adapted for the specific needs of different battery chemistries for even greater efficiency. As the electric mobility revolution continues to evolve, so too will BMSs for electric mobility, bringing forth new capabilities that could potentially revolutionise the industry.